Issue 4

It’s that time of year again…back to school!  The time for the traditional first day of school snapshot for the family scrapbook, official school portraits, and senior photos.  Whether your child is just starting kindergarten or going off to college, this is an important time to capture the moment.

Even if you don’t usually take many photos, all parents want to document a child heading off to preschool or kindergarten.  In addition to laying out clothes and packing a lunch, be sure to plan ahead so you have everything ready: camera, batteries, and film or media card.  The last thing you want is a harried pose and facial expression because the bus is fast approaching.  You should also pick out the location where you will take the photo, whether in front of the house or at the bus stop.  If you are driving your child to school, you could also take the photo in front of the school.  Another option would be to take a photo at school at the end of the day, when the child is no longer nervous.  (This may result in a more natural photo, although the clothing may not be as spotless as it was in the morning.)  If you arrive early enough, you may ask your child’s teacher to be in the photo with your child. 

Beyond preschool or kindergarten, taking a photo every year at the beginning of school is a great way to document your child’s growth.  Consider taking a photo at the same location each year, such as a rock, tree, or mailbox.  You can make the photo more interesting by including props such as a bookbag or favorite item, or members of the family, including other children or pets.  Be sure to include candid, as well as posed shots.  Beyond the first day of school, be sure to capture other moments throughout the year when you attend your child’s activities.  Another fun idea is to get your child their own inexpensive camera and let them capture school and family events.  They will get to exercise their creativity and you will get photos with a different perspective.

When you are photographing children, keep in mind these tips.  Background: Keep the background simple so as not to detract from your subject.  Lighting: You will get better photos using natural light, so try to go outside versus using a flash inside.  Direct sunlight is usually too bright and can cast harsh shadows, so it is better to photograph on an overcast day or find a shaded place.  Even with the perfect lighting situation, there could still be shadows on the child’s face.  If you can manually turn on your flash, use the fill flash to fill in the shadows and create a more even tone.  You can also use some sort of reflector to bounce light onto the underside of the chin.  (Experiment by having someone hold a piece of white cardboard until the light is reflected where you want it.)  Posing: Get close to your subject and photograph from eye-level.  When posing, have the child stand or sit at an angle and turn their head to look at the camera.  There’s nothing worse than a “mug-shot” photo with the entire body facing straight at the camera.  Try not to over-pose into some unnatural position.  The child should always look like they are relaxed and having fun.  If they are wearing glasses, you will need to aim slightly from above to avoid glare.  Patience: Be patient and wait for the right shot, but don’t be afraid to take some candid, not-so-serious shots while you’re waiting.  When photographing more than one subject, let them interact for the best shots.

In addition to the photos you take of your child, another thing to be prepared for is “school photo day”.  If your child has not had professional portraits taken, it is a good idea to practice at home to prepare.  Work with your child so they can follow directions to pose properly and are not nervous, which will show in the photos.  Whether you are preparing for elementary school photo day or sending your soon-to-be graduate off for senior portraits, there are a few things to keep in mind about clothing.  While the favorite trendy outfit for the senior or most adorable print dress for the preschooler may be tempting, try to follow these guidelines.  Classic items (polo shirts, simple dresses) are a better choice than the latest trends.  Stick with solid colors, especially natural earth tones, staying away from large prints or patterns, which are distracting.  Keep things simple, without too many buttons, bows, or zippers, which can come undone (especially with younger children.)  If your child wears glasses and you are worried about glare, you may have them take the glasses off, or if doing important portraits such as senior photos, consider borrowing a set of frames without the lenses.

If you have tried all these tips and decide you want professional portraits, call me 286-0692 to set up a photo shoot for your child, high school senior, family, or other group.